Morocco medication?????
 

Hi there,

I am traveling to Morocco in October and I am trying to figure out what sort of medication to take along. Any ideas?
During a previous journey in Tunisia I got major stomach problems in the middle of the dessert and I wasn’t prepared for it either. Thank god for the two Austrian riders that had all sort of medication with them and helped me out.
Since then I thought maybe I should take antibiotics for a week in advance as a precaution. Any comments on that? Has anyone done anything similar? I just hate to spoil my trip by being sick if I can avoid it.

Thanx

Yuri

On mountaineering trips, I usually take a course of antibiotics (normally Ciproxin)- and have had to use them in Ecuador!
Ask your doctor which is the best sort to cover the most likely problems - easy to pack and can save a lot of grief.

Forgot to say, I personally wouldn't take "precautionary" antibiotics, can't see what good that would do unless you're on a very short trip. Just take a course of tablets with you.

A pair of easily washable flip-flops, a head-torch and a flat-pack toilet roll with some string to tie it around your neck. This should do for the midnight dash to a squat toilet. The washable flip-flops mean you can walk straight to a shower (if available) to rinse off any collateral damage! A towel around your waist is better than shorts.

Other things - diocalm and some re-hydration salts. I know the theory says you should flush out nasty bacteria by letting nature run its course. However, the natural route can be debilitating.

Otherwise, just a normal first aid kit. Talk to your doctor or practice-nurse for advice, they will sometimes give you stuff for free.

I'm not sure about antibiotics. How would you know which ones to get, and how would you know when to use them?


[This message has been edited by Cugel (edited 25 August 2005).]

I was there last October (the whole month) and got nothing, but now I'm in East Africa, having got gut trouble in Mauritania, Ghana, Chad, Ethiopia and Kenya, I carry Ciprofloxacin (antibiotic) and rehydration salts and Loperamide (stops you crapping) just in case. I think it would be a dubious idea to take antibiotics in advance. This combination works quickly anyway.
PS - I'M NOT A DOCTOR!
Simon

Sort of connected!
Someone told me that a makeshift cure for the skitters is to open a bottle of coke, let it go flat, then drink it.
This could be a modern myth but may be worth trying if you find yourself somewhere without the proper medication!
matt

Thanx for all the info!


Did i mention that when i got sick in the desert, during the night at one instance I didn’t even have enough time to exit the tent if you know what I mean!!!
Nasty. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif
But I was kind of lucky because by that time all that came out was clear water!!!!
The more solid stuff was finished the last 32 times I had to go previously that day.
Needless to say I was feeling exhausted the next day but still managed to drive 70 km to Ksar Ghilane.

Advise: Because the locals are eating it doesn’t mean you can eat it too!!

The Coke idea may have some mileage. My sister is a medic and she says its a handy source of (relatively) sterile liquid with some sugar to assist re-hydration. Without the gas bubbles upsetting the stomach it could be useful. On the flipside, my partner once used Coke to clean some jewelry - worked a treat!

to let the body fight without the medicants is probably the best way to whip the galloping gonzo. 1. drink everything you can except milk and coffee or anything with caffiene. Oreange or gr grapes juisce especially good since they both bind with iron and the iron helps to replace the little red corpsucles in the blood stream. they carry oxygen which in turn allows the body to heat up more--kills the bad guys living in the guts by roasting them. The extra fluids help. 2. eat clean apples, papayas, mangos, and especially bananas. 3. don't touch that beer. reach for the camomille tea and the purple conr flower tea. the apples and bananas will stop most of the runs after one day. the herbal tea aids the body's natural defense without lowering your temperature. believe me, you want it hot--up to 100 F. burn the antigens out. 4. next time you decide to shake hands with someone think again--could his hands be covered with something my body has no defense against? (yet) live around anyplace, anycountry long enough and you will acquire the natural defense.

The major cause of stomach problems is the poor hygiene practised by westerners. Your mother undoubtedly told you to wash your hands before meals, but nowadays you don't bother--you handle filthy bank notes, then tear a bit of bread and stick it in your mouth.

So follow the example of Moroccans and wash your hands before meals, having an ice cream, whatever. The water in Morocco is generally drinkable, but you'd be better off with bottled water to be on the safe side.

If you get problems, ideally let nature take its course, coupled with rehydration salts and lots of water. If you want to take antibiotics with you, ask your doctor for Ciprofloxacin, but DO NOT take in advance.

Tim